randombirder

Despite the inevitable disappointment at not catching up with the white-billed diver that was present during the only period of the weekend when I wasn't there, the selection of coastal birds really did make up for it. It was quite a surprise actually that the wintering assemblage seen from the end of Southend Pier would include such a range of species. Weather conditions were ideal - light winds and decent light. Great northern diver were present with up to half a dozen seen on the still waters. A female long-tailed duck was the first surprise viewed from halfway along the pier. A few red-throated diver were seen regularly flying past, and both razorbill and guillemot were seen in small numbers. On Sunday, the consolation of a slavonian grebe , a female eider and a single drake common scoter along with plenty of Mediterranean gull of all ages and a throng of turnstone made for a spectacular sight. Really very nice stuff and definitely worth a few more visits... and yes, I ...

A quiet day at Minsmere is when you rack up 87 species and also get to observe a variety of other interest things. East Scrape A long day but ultimately worth every mile endured along the arduous route to the reserve. The first stop was the Island Mere hide where a couple of Otter sightings on the far side of the water were typically brief. One of the Savi's Warbler made a couple of attempts to wind up a sustained reel but failed miserably.  Not very vocal and therefore no chance of grabbing a chance sighting. Four flyby sightings of Bittern during the course of the day that were particularly active presumably now feeding young. Watching the aerial Marsh Harrier glide over the vast reedbed, a Hobby feeding over the woodland, Bearded Tit dashing low over the reeds, and listening to the cacophony of Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull on the East Scrape are all part of the sensory experience. On both the East and South Scrapes, a number of Kit...

An interesting day surveying an area on the North Kent coast.  The weather brought kindness in abundance, the strong May sun tempered slightly by a gentle  breeze.  It was great making tracks around the survey lines that covered eight miles in total. Bird of the day went to a  Nightingale that sang briefly within a large hawthorn and was always out of view.  A couple of Cuckoo were calling within the vicinity with one later seen flying low along the old sea wall. There were plenty of vocal Warblers including a couple of Lesser Whitethroat , with Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler plentiful.  Just one Sedge Warbler was noted during the course of the day. There was a bit of interest on the receded tide.  A single Avocet looked forlorn in one of the bays, where a Common Sandpiper flicked low along the shoreline.  A stunning adult summer Grey Plover was accompanied by two not so dapper individuals with a Whimbrel and two Turnstone ...